Erin,

I'll see you a set of new leaves and raise you a bud.

REALLY! WOOT! This will be my first succulent/cacti bud! YAY! LOL

~Erin~

Ok another question then. Do they prefer cool weather to flower or warm weather? I'm torn as to whether or not I should bring it in as it's going in to the thirties this next week at night. Also, am I able to collect seeds from it once it's done flowering? If so how? Do I need a male and a female plant for it to produce seeds?? I am so fascinated by this plant! I can't wait to try my hand at lithops! Or maybe even a royal flush Pleiospilos nelii.

~Erin~

Here is one from Lowe's during the summer, note the small imitation leaves around the flower stem...

You have had better luck than me... the right one went squishy dead the last week, just in a few days. The other one I have has six leaves, not sure what will happen to it...

Here is a Lithops I have that is having a flower... it started as pseudo new leaves that came out like an alien,... it is a flower hat, very weird!

I read that these plants don't like hardly any water at all and IF you do water them it's best to do it in the fall and spring and not at all over summer and winter months. Especially don't water when they're growing. I also read that if it has more than 2 or 4 leaves it's getting too much water because when new leaves form it is supposed to reabsorb the oldest leaves. I could be completely wrong of course and the info I've read utter BS. However, it seems to have served me well so far. The only time I have water this plant was shortly after I bought it in September. I have not watered it since and it seems to be doing very well!

~Erin~

The Pleiospilos nelii looks just like Fenestraria aurantiaca when it is starting to bud!

The page I looked at earlier said they're hardy to 32 F, so if it's going to get into the 30's, you'd probably be safest bringing it in, but keeping it someplace that is still cool.

You guys are having lots of fun the the pleiospilos I see. the first pic of noki, 3 Pleios in one pot is more or less how they should look. If you overwater you can get rot or too many leaves, they should have one set only with the old set being absorbed into the new set, thats why you top set is firm and older set soft, Erin, its being absorbed, so be careful over over watering, as they are using the moisture of the older set.

Erin,
their flowers are monoecious, i.e. female and male parts are in the same flower. To get pure seeds you need 2 plants of this species for cross-pollination.

Jordi

Thanks for the good info Jordi and BeachPlants.

BeachPlants ~ I suspected that was the case. I haven't watered at all since about mid September. So, I guess I'm doing okay! It's been rough though! I've had to train myself and smack my hand every time I pick up the watering can!

Jordi ~ AWESOME! A good excuse to get another one! I may be running by the store after I drop my oldest off at daycare!

~Erin~